Cigarette residue and ash dispersal device



United States Patent F 2,990,055 CIGARETTE RESIDUE AND ASH DISPERSAL DEVICE Patrick H. Hughes, Lincoln, Nebr. (307th Air Refueling Squadron, 4045th Air Refueling Wing, Selfridge A.F.B., Mich.)

Filed Jan. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 790,205 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-38) available table and desk space, and further tend to require additional time in cleaning duties.

Another object of importance is to provide a means for disposing of cigarette ashes and residues, when ash trays are not readily available.

Another object is to aid in the reduction of fire hazards often produced by carelessness in situations in which individuals drop a burning cigarette on a floor, and fail to completely extinguish the same, or alternatively, fiip a cigarette to one side without any attempt to extinguish the fire thereof.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated which will smother a burning cigarette, which cigarette has been positioned in the dispersal attachment comprising the present invention, the device being so formed as to produce the mentioned smothering action even in a situation in which the cigarette has not been completely extinguished prior to closing of a slide provided upon the device.

Another object is to provide a dispersal device of the character stated which will hold a substantial number of ggarette butts or residues, together with the ashes there- Another object is to provide a dispersal device of the character stated which can be embodied in an otherwise conventional cigarette package construction, with little increase in cost above that involved in the manufacture of the cigarette package.

Another object of importance is to provide a dispersal device of the character stated which will be easy to use, and which will be of a highly compact construction, so as not to represent inconvenience when being carried in the average size coat or shirt pocket.

Still another object of importance is to provide a dispersal device which will be designed to be manufactured of inexpensive material, such as the ordinary fibrous stock used in the conventional crush-proof cigarette package.

Still another object of importance is to provide an attachment for a conventional cigarette package, which attachment can beused for facilitating the disposition of cigarette residues and ashes, the attachment being so formed as not to interfere in any way with the extraction of a cigarette from the package,

A further object is to so form the device as to cause the same to be readily collapsible, accordion-fashion, when the device is inserted in the pocket together with an associated cigarette package to which it is secured. In

this way, it is proposed to cause the device to be collapsible to only a fraction of its normal, expanded width. This is a distinct advantage in packaging of the articles in cartons.

Patented June 27, 1961 Still another object of importance is to provide a device of the character stated which will be so designed as to facilitate the imprinting of advertising material thereon, thus to maintain a maximum amount of space on the surface of the cigarette package, which space will still be available for advertising purposes.

Still another object of importance is to provide a device of the character stated which will include a single blank readily foldable to form a container in which the ashes and cigarette residues can be deposited, the device including only a slide and slideway in addition to the mentioned blank. In this way, it is proposed to keep the cost of the device at a minimum.

Another object of importance is to so design the above mentioned slide and slideway as to facilitate the operation of the same between its opposite extreme positions.

Other objects will appear from the following descrip tion, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate, like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package and of a cigarette residue and ash dispersal device according to the present invention, the slide being in its open position exposing a vent formed in the container of the device;

FIGURE la is a fragmentary perspective view of the package and dispersal device shown in FIGURE 1, with the slide in its opposite extreme position and the container collapsed, a lit cigarette being shown in dotted lines in a position in which it may be disposed prior to being inserted in the container;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device, substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the blank used in forming the container.

Referring to the drawing in detail, generally designated at 10 is a conventional cigarette package, of the so-called crush-proof type. Such a container is formed of a relatively stiff fibrous material, and is of a type that is finding increasing favor.

A container of the character described is especially adapted for use with a cigarette residue and ash dispersal device according to the present invention. The device has been generally designated 12, and is adhesively or otherwise secured to the back wall of the package 10, at the time of manufacture of the package.

As will be noted, the package has the usual deep receptacle 14 adapted to contain a quantity of cigarettes, said receptacle being closed at its top by a lid 16, which can be flipped open from its normal closed position shown in FIGURE 1, along a transverse hinge line 18 extending along the back of the package adjacent the top thereof.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the cigarette residue and dispersal device according to the present invention includes a container formed from a single bank of readily foldable, inexpensive, disposable stock, such as fibrous material of the same thickness and rigidity as that used in manufacture of the cigarette package itself. The blank, before folding, appears as in FIGURE 5, and as will be noted, includes a front panel 20 of rectangular configuration, integral along its bottom edge with a bottom wall 22 which is, in turn, integrally connected to a transverse bottom flap 24.

Integral with the front wall or panel 20 are side walls or panels 26, which are, in turn, integral with wide back flaps 28. Integrally connected to the lower ends of th side panels 26 are cars 30. i

A top wall 32 is integrally connected to the top edge of the front wall 20. Top wall 32 is integrally connected to a top flap 34.

Designated at 36 are right-triangular, small cars, and integrally connected to the ears 36 are trapezoidal wings 38 In the upper portion of the wall 20, adjacent one of the side panels 26, there is formed a circular opening 40 extending parallel to the front and back edges of the top wall. A lower score line 44 is for-med in the lower edge portion of the front wall 20, extending fully from side-toside thereof in close proximity to the bottom edge of said wall 20.

Designated at 46 are score lines formed in the cars 36, said score lines extending to the opposite ends of the line 42. The lines 46 are of acute-angular shape, including in each instance a long leg and a short leg, with the short leg being a continuation of the line 42 when the device is seen in blank as in FIGURE 5.

Vertical score lines 48 are formed in the respective side walls 26, in parallel relation to the front and back edges of the side walls 26. Lines 48 at their lower ends extend into meeting relation with angular score marks 50 of inverted V-shape formed in the lower end portions of the side walls 26.

As will be apparent, when the device is folded, the ears 36 will be coplanar with the side walls 26 (see FIGURE 4). As a result, transverse slits 53 will be defined, where the ears 36 meet the top edges of the side walls 26.

It is desired-to close the aperture which would result by raising of the slit 53. Accordingly, there is provided at each side of the device a small insert 51, shaped to fit against the upper end portion of the side wall 26, and against the ear 36 disposed immediately thereabove. As a result, the slit 53 is effectively closed, so that ashes cannot be forced outwardly therethrough when the device is collapsed from its FIGURE 1 to its FIGURE la position.

The blank shown in FIGURE 5 is folded along the several edges of the wall 20, so that the side walls 26, bottom wall 22, and top wall 32 extend rearwardly from the front wall. The ears 30 are folded inwardly into overlying relation to the wall 22, as clearly seen in FIGURE 4 The top flap 34 is folded downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2, with the flap 24 being folded upwardly in coplanar relation to the flap 34. Side flaps 28 are folded inwardly, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, with the flaps 24, 34 being in overlying relation to the flaps 28 (see FIGURE 4).

Adhesive may be employed to connect the device to the package, although any other means for attaching the device to the cigarette package may be used. 'In the illustrated example, the flaps 28 would be adhesively connected to the back wall ofthe cigarette package 10. In turn, flaps 24, 34 would be adhesively connected to the flaps 28. Further, ears 30 would be adhesively connected to the bottom wall 22. Wings 38 are folded inwardly, being-in abutting relation to the upper edges of the respective side flaps 28 (see FIGURE 2). Wings 38 would be adhesively secured to the back wall of the cigarette package in a typical arrangement, and may also be adhesively secured to the back surface of the top flap 34.

As will be seen, this provides a container, so designed that access to the interior thereof can only be had through the opening--40. Further, it is important to note that the container is collapsible, along the lines .42, 46, 48, 50,

and 54. The fold line along which the device may be collapsed extends continuously along the top and sides of the container, intermediate the front and back walls of the container. Across the bottom, the fold line is provided directly in the front wall 20. It will be understood that the inserts 51 may also be provided with fold lines aligning with the lines 48 to permit the collapse of the device at the top thereof.

Due to this arrangement, when one desires to collapse the device, he or she need merely exert a light pressure against the front wall 20, tending to shift the front wall toward the cigarette package 10. The result will be that the pre-creased fold lines 42 will permit collapsing of the top wall and side walls, accordion-fashion. This is'shown in FIGURE 1a. At the same time, the front wall '20 folds or collapses along the line 42, and this, in eflect,'defines a forwardly-projecting, relatively narrow, transverse ledge 55 extending across the full width of the device. This ledge is adapted to provide a support for a cigarette C while the same is being smoked.

Adhesively, or otherwise secured to the upper portion of the front wall 20, in overlying relation to the opening 40, is a rectangular retainer or cover piece 52 having an outwardly offset portion 54 that extends fully to one side edge of the cover piece 52. In the illustrated example, the cover piece would be adhesively secured to the wall 20 along thetop, bottom, and right-hand side edges of the cover piece, viewing the same as in FIGURES 1 and 111.

An elongated, wide slot 56 is formed in the cover piece 52, extending fully to the left-hand side edge thereof, viewing the same as in FIGURE 1. Slot 56, at its inner end, is in registration with the circular opening 40.

A slide 58 is formed from a rectangular, flat piece of fibrous stock, as is the cover piece 52. Slide 58 has a transverse, slot-like opening 60 formed in the slide adjacent the outer end thereof, that is, adjacent the endof the slide disposed near and corresponding to the open end of the slot 56.

In use of the device, it may be collapsed, as in FIGURE la, when being carried about in ones pocket or purse. Thereafter, and assuming that it is desired to flick the ashes from ones cigarette C while the cigarette is being smoked, the cigarette need merely be inserted at its lit end through the opening 40. The ashes can then be flicked off the cigarette into the container, after which the cigarette is extracted to permit continued smoking thereof.

At such time as the cigarette is to be extinguished and disposed of, one need only insert the cigarette through the opening 40, permitting it to drop into the container. The slide is then adjusted from its FIGURE 1 to its FIGURE 1a position, so that all air within the container is immediately used up by the burning cigarette. The cigarette will thus be smothered promptly and will remain in the container until such time as the package 10 has been completely emptied. At that time, the package 10 together with the dispersal device '12 is discarded.

The device is further designed to permit one to support a cigarette upon the ledge 55, in the event an ash tray is not readily available. This is facilitated by reason of the fact that the cigarette package will lie in a prone position upon a desk or table surface.

In this connection, should one forget the cigarette while the cigarette is supported upon ledge 55, the cigarette will burn to the edge of thedispersal device, and should it continue to burn fully to its end, no harm will be done to the dispersal device nor will a fire hazard result, since the fibrous material of which the dispersal device is formed would preferably be of fire-proof characteristics, and can be impregnated with any of various fire-resistant or fireproofing materials. Alternatively, there could be a liner of fire-proof material inserted in the container, although this would constitute an extra piece of material.

The device is so proportioned as to hold all the extinguished cigarettes and ashes, from a complete pack,

this being possible in view of the fact that the cigarettes would normally be smoked to a comparatively short length.

As will be apparent, the device does not interfere with the normal opening or closing of the cigarette package 10. Further, the device can be collapsed so as to represent a minimum projection from the back wall of the cigarette package, whereby to facilitate convenient carrying of the device in ones pocket or purse.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any changes in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ash and butt receptacle for mounting on a cigarette package wall, comprising a blank having a front wall panel having upper and lower edges and side edges, said front wall being formed with an access opening, side walls connected by fold lines to the side edges of the front panel, back flaps extending along and connected to the side walls by fold lines, a top wall extending along the upper edge of the front wall and connected thereto by a fold line, a top flap extending along and connected to the top wall by a fold line, a bottom wall extending along the lower edge of the front wall and connected thereto by a fold line, a bottom fiap extending along the bottom wall and connected thereto by a fold line, an upper horizontal weakened line extending lengthwise of the top wall, vertical weakened lines extending lengthwise of the side walls, a lower horizontal weakened line extending across the lower part of the front wall, to the lower ends of the vertical weakened lines, tabs extending downwardly from and connected to the lower ends of the side walls by fold lines, and pairs of upwardly convergent weakened lines in the lower parts of the side walls, said convergent lines converging at the lower ends of the vertical weakened lines and extending to the tab fold lines, and triangular 6 brace tabs on the ends of and extending laterally outwardly and upwardly from the ends of the top wall and connected thereto by fold lines.

2. An ash and butt receptacle for mounting on a cigarette package wall, comprising a blank having a front wall panel having upper and lower edges and side edges, said front wall being formed with an access opening, side walls connected by fold lines to the side edges of the front panel, back flaps extending along and connected to the side walls by fold lines, a top wall extending along the upper edge of the front wall and connected thereto by a fold line, a top flap extending along and connected to the top wall by a fold line, a bottom wall extending along the lower edge of the front wall and connected thereto by a fold line, a bottom flap extending along the bottom wall and connected thereto by a fold line, an upper horizontal weakened line extending lengthwise of the top wall, vertical weakened lines extending lengthwise of the side walls, a lower horizontal weakened line extending across the lower part of the front wall, to the lower ends of the vertical weakened lines, tabs extending downwardly from and connected to the lower ends of the side walls by fold lines, and pairs of upwardly convergent weakenedlines in the lower parts of the side walls, said convergent lines converging at the lower ends of the vertical weakened lines and extending to the tab \fold lines, and triangular brace tabs on the ends of and extending laterally outwardly and upwardly from the ends of the top wall and connected thereto by fold lines, said brace tabs having pairs of laterally inwardly converging weakened lines intersecting the last mentioned fold line.

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